Is movie critic Elvis Mitchell leaving the New York Times? Word is that AO Scott will take over the chief film critic role, and that Mitchell will leave. “The move downsizes the triumvirate that put Scott, Mitchell and Stephen Holden in charge of movie criticism when longstanding lead reviewer Maslin stepped down at the end of 1999.”
Tag: 04.23.04
Auction Sales Fall In 2003
Sales of art at auction in 2003 were down by as much as 17 percent. Of course, the figures aren’t nearly so clear cut as that…
MoMA’s Art Sale
The Museum of Modern Art could raise almost $30 million when it sells nine works of art from its collection at auction. “The museum is ostensibly raising funds for new acquisitions to display when it moves back into its expanded, midtown building next year. But the decision to sell paintings by artists whose works fit squarely within the museum’s collection will meet with some controversy.”
Trading Up
“In 1972 the Anderson Fine Arts Center in Anderson, Ind., which has about 25,000 visitors a year, was given “Damage,” one of Mr. Ruscha’s signature word paintings, by the American Federation of the Arts. At the time it was valued at $3,000. Now the Anderson is offering the painting at Christie’s sale of contemporary and postwar art on May 11. It is estimated at $1.8 million to $2.5 million.”
Where Is Fleeing Arts Patron?
Where is arts benefactor Herbert Axelrod? He reportedly fled to Cuba to avoid tax charges. But “Cuba’s foreign minister yesterday denied knowing anything about multimillionaire Herbert Axelrod, who fled here to avoid tax fraud charges. ‘Cuba has never been a refuge for those fleeing justice’.”
Schwarz: Was I too Adventurous In Liverpool?
American conductor Gerard Schwarz says his choice of music when he first arrived as music director of the Royal Liverpool Orchestra may have scared off some audiences. Players of the orchestra recently voted not to renew Schwarz’s contract with the orchestra. “In my first season’s programme, I didn’t think I was stretching the audiences. Obviously, everyone doesn’t agree with me.”
Football Club Hires Poet-In-Residence
“Sarah Wardle, 34, has become poet in residence at Premiership club Tottenham Hotspur, in north London. The published poet and university lecturer produces pieces which are inspired by the club, its ground and the supporters.”
Art By Plastic Surgery
French performance artist Orlan practices her art by altering her body cosmetically with plastic surgery. “For Orlan, plastic surgery isn’t tummy tucks, liposuction, breast reduction or lip augmentation. It’s an expression of the sublime and grotesque, eccentricities carved into human flesh and sculpted in living bone.”
Grrl Power Teens Start Their Own Dance Company
Four years ago, two Berkely teenagers started their own dance company, recruiting their own dancers. “They did it all by themselves: choreographed the dances, sewed the costumes, even raised the funds and called around for publicity — grrrl power elevated to fine art.”
Shooting Presidents – A Hit?
More than a decade after they first surfaced to critical shudders and head-scratching, the unhappy have-nots of “Assassins” — the glitteringly dark musical by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman about Americans who dream of killing their country’s presidents — have finally made it to Broadway…The frightening title characters of “Assassins” are restating their demand to be noticed in the Roundabout Theater Company production, which opened last night at Studio 54. And under Joe Mantello’s direction, they are doing so with an eloquence and an intensity that makes a compelling case for a misunderstood show.”